So the one comforting thing you can know as you struggle with your weight is: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
And, its not only adults who suffer from what the Center for Disease
Control (CDC) considers to be a serious health risk, the percentage of
overweight youth has tripled since 1989. The CDC reports that "among
children and teens aged 6-19 years, 16% (over 9 million young people)
are considered overweight".
Now the thing about being overweight is that it is more than just plain
uncomfortable.
The CDC is concerned about the health implications and
there are many.
Being seriously overweight means that you increase the risk of
contracting many diseases and conditions that are associated with the
increased demands excess weight places on the body. Hypertension, Type
2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke are just some of the
health risks that plague people with weight problems.
The good news is that there is something that can be done about it.
Typically overweight people struggle to lose weight but now there is a
medication that actually helps you fight that excess fat.
ABOUT XENICAL
Xenical is a prescription drug that is licensed for weight management
in 149 countries. It helps obese people lose weight AND maintain it.
Now, not just anyone can take xenical and certainly not those with
"cosmetic" weight issues. The drug is only FDA approved for those who
are considered at risk for certain health issues because of excess
weight.
Since it was marketed in 1998 it has helped over 19.5 million overweight people around the world.
WHAT DOES IT DO
This miracle drug does not work on the brain as appetite suppressants
do; it limits its activities to the intestines. That is why it is one
of the few FDA approved drugs for long term weight management. In the
intestines it sets about blocking the absorption of up to 30% of the
fat you eat. This undigested fat is eliminated by the bowel.
Xenical will not solve the weight problem on its own despite its
miracle qualities. You will need to couple the medication with a
balanced calorie reduced diet and, yes, regular exercise. There is no
getting away from that. What is wonderful though is that now you have
something quite considerable on your side, something that is capable of
sifting out some of that nasty fat so that weight loss is pretty much
guaranteed.
XENICAL SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN
Unfortunately there are some limitations in terms of who can take the
drug. Those with food absorption problems, gallbladder problems, kidney
problems and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding are not advised to
take Xenical.
PRECAUTIONS
* Divide your daily intake of fat evenly over your three main meals
* Watch your vitamin intake. Xenical can interfere with absorption of
important fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene. Take a good
multivitamin supplement that contains vitamins D, E, K and
beta-carotene at least two hours before or after taking Xenical.
* Make sure that your doctor is aware of other medications you are
currently using including those over the counter, herbal or homeopathic
preparations. If you take cyclosporine your doctor may want to monitor
you more closely.
* Diabetics may find that Xenical has an adverse affect on your blood
sugar control. Your doctor will want to see you regularly to monitor
the drug's effects.
SIDE EFFECTS
The CDC warns that Xenical may have some rather unpleasant side effects like:
* Oily spotting
* Gas with discharge
* Urgent need to move the bowel
* Oily of fatty stools
* Oily discharge
* Increased number of bowel movements
* Inability to control bowel movements.
XENICAL AND ADOLESCENTS
A recent study presented at the 13th European Congress on Obesity (ECO)
in Prague has found that Xenical has proved significantly successful in
the treatment of overweight adolescents.
Professor Jean-Pierre Chanoine, the principal study investigator said,
"Obesity is a global epidemic, and is now the most common teenage
health problem in the developed world." He recommends Xenical as a safe
and effective therapy for this important patient group.
In an unprecedented move the FDA approved Xenical for the treatment of
obese adolescents aged 12 to 16 years. It is the first approval of its
kind for a prescription weight-loss treatment.
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By: Andriana Posted: Oct 20 2005 05:16:38 PM